Boat Repair Product Tips

Do you have a boat that has been sitting idling over the course of the year? Does it seem like you aren’t making full use of what was an expensive investment? Did you know that many boats are sidelined for some very common reasons? Most of these issues can be easily avoided if you are willing to do a little bit of maintenance at regular intervals to protect your boat, system, and conduct repairs. ...read more Take some of the following products into account when you are looking for ways to better preserve your marine vessel throughout the entirety of the year;

Engine Cleaners and Degreasers

Engine cleaners and degreasers help to keep your boat running optimally at all times of the year. There are many different cleaners, degreasers and general engine maintenance products on the market, each of them providing a wide range of different benefits. It is important to keep all areas of your engine clean, as grease buildup can result in any number of different issues.

It’s for this reason that we offer so many different specially designed cleaning and degreasing products. Products such as our Starbrite Engine Protector are excellent all around maintenance products, allowing you to protect the exterior open surfaces of the engine from the common rust and corrosion problems that many boat owners run into. Additionally, the simple spray easy-application process means that you do not have to dedicate a lot of time in order to receive the high quality results that it provides.

We also offer a range of different products that are designed for specific areas of the engine and boat. These include the CRC Engine Cleaner and Degreaser, the CRC Carb and Choke Cleaner, and the CRC Brakleen Brake Parts Cleaner. These products provide you with maximum performance, allowing you to protect very specific areas within your engine. Removing contaminants from your engine helps to ensure a long life for your boat, and may limit the amount that you can expect to spend on repairs down the road.

Lubricants

We've all heard different vehicles referred to as well oiled machines’ in the past. There is a good reason why this phrase is so popular - there are few things more important than the lubrication within your engine. From the oil that you choose to use to other forms of lubricants, they all help your engine to reduce friction, which in return results in less broken moving parts and a healthier boat overall.

We have oils and lubricants that are specifically designed for different purposes. For instance, our Type “C Gear Oil is specifically formulated for older model outboards and I/Os that come equipped with an electric shift, keeping them well lubricated and clean. This product in particular helps to reduce friction in these types of engines, reducing friction and protecting gears and bearings.

Sealant and Caulking

If your boat springs a leak out of nowhere, there is a good chance that some existing caulking or sealant has given out and will require replacement. The good news is that both sealant and caulk are relatively cheap and effective ways to deal with leaks. Our Boatlife Silicone Rubber Sealant is an excellent product for sealing tight corners and niches in the design of your boat, helping to limit long term damage.

Winterizing

Winterizing your boat during the colder months is an absolute must for most boat owners. If you are not planning on using your boat much during the cold season (this is quite common in colder areas) then you want to make sure that you have protected your boat from the dangers that come with freezing temperatures. We offer a number of winterization kits which can help you to complete the entire process painlessly. Winterization kits provide you with a number of different products, including fogging fluid, fuel stabilizer, decarboniser and lubricants to help ensure that your boat remains unharmed through freezing temperatures. Additionally, you may want to look into winterizing all aspects of your boat, including the exterior, interior and engine. Each area of your boat can see severe damage if you are not willing to take the proper steps before things begin to cool down.

Maintenance Videos

Here at iBoats.com, we also offer a number of instructional maintenance videos that are excellent resources for new boat owners and veterans alike. If you would like to learn how to conduct basic tasks and repairs, such as general maintenance, winterizing your boat or repairing fiberglass, we have instructional videos available that can help you to make sure that you protect your investment and keep your boat running optimally for years to come. read less

Boat Restoration - A Shared Experience (1966 Starcraft Sunchief)

I purchased this boat from my brother in the fall of 2008 for $1,000.00. A 22’ 1966 Starcraft Sunchief with a 110 HP Mercruiser stern-drive. ...read more

The first time I saw the boat was in the late 70’s at my soon to be father in law’s place in the mountains of Virginia. It was love at first sight! In the mid 80’s he offered it up for sale and at the time I couldn't afford it so I talked my brother into buying it.

The boat came to me well used with worn out carpet, rotting, soft flooring, numerous owner installed gizmos hanging all over it and overspray from a home made Harley painting episode in the same garage resulting in a light pink tint.

My wife and I made the decision to restore the boat, keeping the old school look and adding some functional upgrades to make it safe and fun. This would include new paint top and bottom, all new wood, seats, flooring, flotation, electronics, and hardware. The first thing to go was the floor and most of the miscellaneous accessories screwed to the aluminum everywhere. Next was the oil soaked flotation in the bilge area and all of the 42 year old wood.

Most of the useful factory hardware was salvaged and delivered to the chrome folks to be re-plated. All of the aluminum was polished using buffing wheels and aluminum polish by my wife and I. We even visited various local fabricators and had them generate new data plates, emblems, etc that have since become unavailable and we found things like the brand new 60’s era steering wheel and the Jetson stern light via on line auctions. We removed the outdrive, had it gone through by a local marine mechanic and I prepped and painted it in my garage.

I have to say at this stage that in 08 and 09, there wasn’t really much information available about how the old Starcrafts were put together. The lack of available information results in a fair amount of apprehension when you start trying to dismantle the boat. I decided before hand to start a thread on the restoration forums at iBoats.com to hopefully bounce ideas off of other boating folks and to share the experience with others wanting to accomplish the same task. Additionally, I began an exhaustive almost nightly internet search trying to learn all I could about 60’s era Starcraft aluminum boats.

The nightly back and forth with other boat restorers really came in handy during the hull and topside prep and paint stage of the restoration. Keep in mind that prior to this project I’ve had absolutely no experience restoring old boats. I’d have to say that I considered the paint process the most challenging in the project. There are so many variables such as weather, prep, and paint choices and a person can easily become overwhelmed. I learned early on to post up a question, read all of the opinions, and make an informed decision and go with it.

After installing new marine plywood and reinforced fiberglass flooring we decided to do the interior with Sapele, an imported wood fromAfricathat is used as a modern day replacement for overharvested Mahogony. Then the wiring, seats and electronics. I have to say the wiring was a little intimidating for me but my son came over for a couple of evenings and made quick work of it!

Here’s a shot of the finished product. All in all we probably spent a little more on the restore than some folks would, but we are very happy with the end result and unlike someone who just purchased a new boat from the factory, we have the satisfaction of knowing that we did this with our own hands and we literally know every inch of our boat. Also it’s a boat that’s been in the family for more than 30 years.

Hats off to all of our friends at iBoats who helped make this happen……

Looks like a brand new boat! Restoration completed by North Beachread less

Boat Restoration - A Shared Experience (1964 Starcraft Jet Star)

When I was a youngster, I got to drive our family’s 14’ Glastron runabout every summer. I’d been wanting to buy and renovate a 14-15’ runabout for some time, so I started checking Craigslist. ...read more I came across this 1964 Jet Star with a 50hp West Bend motor, listed for $750. My offer of $700 was accepted, and after selling the motor and some things that were in the boat for $380, my total initial outlay was $320.

The Jet Star was primarily designed as a sporty ski/watersport boat with a bench front seat and a rear-facing bench seat for observers. Its length is 15’ and it had all the features I’d been looking for in a boat. I had never really worked on boats before, but after reading a lot of information on iboats, I decided it was something I really wanted to do.

The first phase of my renovation was to clean it up and get it ready for painting, my goal being to have a safe and nimble older-style boat that I could enjoy on the water. I purchased a 2003 50hp Johnson and installed new seats, floor, flotation, rack and pinion steering system, and modified the transom to accept the long-shaft motor. By the time I had finished, I had learned a lot about painting, and had installed all new deck hardware (except for the famed “Jetson” stern light!), the Johnson 50 with new controls, a bilge pump, new rub rail, rewired the entire boat, and laminated an oak dashboard. It took a lot of research and hard work, but it was worth it.

The final details added to finish it up were vinyl decals of the name “Permanent Vacation” on each side, a new capacity plate and two cup holders.

Overall I really enjoyed the project, but one thing that added to its expense and made it take much longer than I had anticipated was that I did not have a clear objective in mind when I started out. I had not decided early on whether I just wanted to get on the water as quickly as I could, or really make this into a “showboat”. In the end, the latter just evolved because as I went along, I thought, “I’m only going to do this once, so I might as well make it look as nice as I can.” With the help of many iboat forum members, all my effort has paid off, because it’s a pleasure to drive and a lot of people on the water are very curious and I get a lot of compliments when they see it.

Boat Gel Coat Scratch Repair

Is there anything more beautiful than looking down the hull of your boat and seeing that perfectly smooth, gleaming gel coat? On the flip side of that, there's nothing worse than seeing a chip or scratch in the sleek finish. ...read more

To fix those hull blemishes I'm sure all boaters have thought about using something like the Evercoat Match and Patch Kit at some time. Repair products like that have their place, but I've always found it to be hard to get a good color match. This is where Spectrum Color saves the day.

I was recently introduced to Spectrum Color. They are a marine gel coat company that makes boat manufacturer specific color matches based on the original gel coat. You just select your boat manufacturer and the year to find the exact color to make any repairs to your hull. See if they make the gel coat colors for your boat, exclusively at iboats.com

For small cosmetic damage that does not penetrate the fiberglass beneath the gel coat, follow the directions below in 60-90 degree temperatures. Also, remember to use safety glasses and gloves.

Prep the area by cleaning with a solvent like acetone.

Sand the damaged area with 220 sandpaper to remove loose material and sharp edges. Keep the repair as small as possible.

In a mixing cup, mix 1oz of Patch Paste (1/2 jar) with 10 drops of catalyst.

Fill the damaged area and smooth the patch paste slightly above the surface to allow for shrinkage.

Once cured, sand the repair area with approximately 280-320 grit sand paper then 600-800 grit paper. Remove all scratches by buffing the area with a mild compound. Restore the deep shine by polishing with wax.